Russia preps for eastern offensive as Ukraine battles shortages
Russia is preparing for a new offensive in Ukraine by gathering forces on the front lines. American officials warn of a possible attack in the eastern part of the country.
Russia strengthens its actions on the front, preparing for a possible new offensive in Ukraine. According to CNN, citing two American officials, Russian commanders aim to assemble a large force to seize more territory in eastern Ukraine.
The first American official emphasized that Russia plans to focus its efforts on capturing as much land as possible, up to the outskirts of Kyiv. "The Russians will do everything in their power to achieve their goals," added the second official, as quoted by ukrinform.net.
CNN notes that these preparations are occurring at a time when Ukraine is struggling with a severe labor shortage on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Russia is also encountering difficulties in assembling the necessary forces.
American assessments indicate that Ukrainian drones and the effectiveness of minefields are holding Russia back, despite its numerical superiority both in eastern Ukraine and in the Kursk region.
The first official noted that there are no signs that North Korea is in a position to significantly increase its military engagement in Ukraine, having lost thousands of soldiers in combat.
For several weeks, American assessments have shown no significant changes in Russia's war goals, even though the Trump administration is urging the Kremlin to adhere to a 30-day ceasefire and engage in peace talks.
CNN previously reported that in recent weeks Ukrainian forces have observed Russia moving a substantial number of troops and equipment to positions just a few dozen miles from the front lines.
USA criticizes Russia. "I don't believe it will happen."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Russia's lack of seriousness in talks about ending the war in Ukraine. During the NATO summit in Antalya, he stated that the delegation sent by Moscow gives no hope for real negotiations, and further unproductive meetings make no sense.
Rubio expressed that the U.S. will no longer pursue this issue globally. He acknowledged the events had already occurred, and the delegation had come based on the expectation of potential direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. However, he noted that such talks are no longer likely to happen—or if they do, they won’t meet the anticipated level of significance.
